3D Printed Bricks from Eggshells Produced by Manufactura Could Help Address Environmental Pollution and Food Waste.
The process of 3D printing bricks from eggshells. (Video: Manufactura)
Manufactura, a sustainable construction company based in Mexico, has developed a new construction process that is both fast and environmentally friendly. The company is producing building materials for 3D printing using discarded eggshells, as reported by Interesting Engineering on March 4.
The initiative by Manufactura, called the Eggshell Project, aims to tackle two major issues: the environmental impact of the ceramic tile industry and food waste in Mexico. The ceramic tile industry is notorious for generating high levels of emissions due to its reliance on fossil fuels. This prompted Manufactura to utilize a readily available and lightweight waste resource—eggshells—to construct new structures. When combined with a biological binder, eggshells transform into a mixture that hardens without the need for firing. This mixture is ideal for 3D printing.
3D printed bricks have various applications around the world and even in space.
The tested product is a wall made of eggshell bricks, consisting of a total of 105 different blocks assembled based on their shapes, along with an eggshell column made from 26 highly stable blocks. The raw materials for the wall and column were sourced from waste donated by various restaurants in Mexico City over two months.
This project combines computer-aided design and digital manufacturing to transform waste into useful and necessary byproducts, while also raising awareness about pollution issues in Mexico and the environmental impact of the ceramic tile industry. Manufactura has successfully introduced a new and environmentally friendly manufacturing method.
3D printed bricks have numerous applications around the globe and even in space. In October 2022, NASA called on scientists to develop smart methods for building bases that can withstand the harsh conditions on the Moon and Mars.
